COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 512131

Motion Picture Theaters, Except Drive-in

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

32companies1896–2002founding years28still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedPathé SAFoundedPathé SA
1896
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedEdwards Theatres Circuit, Inc.
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedCentury Theatres, Inc.
1940
FoundedArmy and Air Force Exchange Service
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedNational Amusements Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPPB Group Berhad
1948
FoundedVillage Roadshow Ltd.
1954
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedSanrio Company, Ltd.
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedImax CorporationFoundedImax Corporation
1967
FoundedAMC Entertainment Inc.
1968
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedLandmark Theatre Corporation
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedCarmike Cinemas, Inc.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCablevision Systems Corporation
1985
FoundedIwerks Entertainment, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
FoundedReading International Inc.
2001
FoundedRegal Entertainment Group
2002
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Pathé SA →
Active · founded 1896 · France
One of the most illustrious names in motion picture history, Pathé remains one of France's leading forces in film…
Pathé SA →
Active · founded 1896 · France
One of the most illustrious names in motion picture history, Pathé remains one of France's leading forces in film…
Edwards Theatres Circuit, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Edwards Theatres Circuit, Inc.
Edwards Theatres Circuit, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Edwards Theatres Circuit, Inc.
Century Theatres, Inc. →
Active · founded 1940
Century Theatres, Inc.
Century Theatres, Inc. →
Active · founded 1940
Century Theatres, Inc.
Army and Air Force Exchange Service →
Active · founded 1941
1940s:Exchange Service goes to war; catalog ordering is introduced.
Army and Air Force Exchange Service →
Active · founded 1941
1940s:Exchange Service goes to war; catalog ordering is introduced.
National Amusements Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1946
One of the ten largest U.S.-based movie theater chains, National Amusements Inc.
National Amusements Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1946
One of the ten largest U.S.-based movie theater chains, National Amusements Inc.
PPB Group Berhad →
Active · founded 1948 · Malaysia
One of Malaysia's largest companies, and one of the largest conglomerates in the ASEAN market region, PPB Group Berhad…
PPB Group Berhad →
Active · founded 1948 · Malaysia
One of Malaysia's largest companies, and one of the largest conglomerates in the ASEAN market region, PPB Group Berhad…
Village Roadshow Ltd. →
Active · founded 1954 · Australia
Village Roadshow Ltd.
Village Roadshow Ltd. →
Active · founded 1954 · Australia
Village Roadshow Ltd.
Sanrio Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1960 · Japan
Japan's Sanrio Company, Ltd.
Sanrio Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1960 · Japan
Japan's Sanrio Company, Ltd.
Imax Corporation →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
Imax Corporation, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, is the pioneer and leader of giant-screen,…
Imax Corporation →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
Imax Corporation, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, is the pioneer and leader of giant-screen,…
AMC Entertainment Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
AMC Entertainment Inc., through its American Multi-Cinema, Inc.
AMC Entertainment Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
AMC Entertainment Inc., through its American Multi-Cinema, Inc.
Landmark Theatre Corporation →
Active · founded 1974
Landmark Theatre Corporation operates the largest chain of movie theaters in the United States that exhibit specialty…
Landmark Theatre Corporation →
Active · founded 1974
Landmark Theatre Corporation operates the largest chain of movie theaters in the United States that exhibit specialty…
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1982
Carmike Cinemas, Inc.
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1982
Carmike Cinemas, Inc.
Cablevision Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the largest cable systems operators in the United States, providing service…
Cablevision Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the largest cable systems operators in the United States, providing service…
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc.
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc.
Reading International Inc. →
Active · founded 2001
Reading International Inc., is focused on the ownership and development of real estate assets, concentrating its…
Reading International Inc. →
Active · founded 2001
Reading International Inc., is focused on the ownership and development of real estate assets, concentrating its…
Regal Entertainment Group →
Active · founded 2002
Regal Entertainment Group is the largest movie theater chain in the world.
Regal Entertainment Group →
Active · founded 2002
Regal Entertainment Group is the largest movie theater chain in the world.
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